April Michelle Nesbitt, Tax Preparer Sentenced for Including False Information on Federal Tax Returns, Alabama 2024

A Sandersville, Georgia woman has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns in Alabama. April Michelle Nesbitt, 44, was sentenced on February 2, 2024 by a federal judge in the state.

According to her plea agreement and other court records, from 2015 to 2021, Nesbitt worked at Superior Tax Group in Montgomery, Alabama. There, Nesbitt filed federal income tax returns for clients. In her plea agreement, Nesbitt admitted that, on at least two occasions, she included false information on a client’s return, causing the taxpayer to receive greater refunds than he or she was entitled to receive.

Specifically, Nesbitt included expenses on a client’s 2018 and 2020 tax returns related to a childcare business that did not exist. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also ordered that Nesbitt pay restitution in the amount of $46,669 to the IRS.

“Tax fraud is a major problem costing the American taxpayer millions each year,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. “I encourage all taxpayers to review their returns and confirm that they recognize the information. If a tax preparer refuses to let you examine your tax return before it is filed, or if you review your tax return and see a business that is not yours or expenses you do not recognize, ask for clarification or seek a second opinion from a different return preparer.”

“April Nesbitt used her position as a tax preparer to steal from the American people,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Tax preparers contemplating filing fraudulent tax returns should look at her sentencing as an example of what to expect after IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners discover their crimes.”

Nesbitt was ordered to pay $46,669 in restitution to the IRS. The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick.

The sentencing is a reminder of the importance of tax preparation integrity and the consequences of tax fraud. Taxpayers are encouraged to review their returns carefully and seek clarification if they have any questions or concerns.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdal/pr/tax-preparer-sentenced-including-false-information-federal-tax-returns